Quiz 1

The Constitution prohibits ex post facto laws. This means what?

Laws which are retroactive

Which of the following are mala in se crimes?

Rape, murder, and theft

Jurisdiction is defined as:

The power of a court to exercise authority over the subject matter of the dispute and the parties (both A and B)

For something to be considered a crimes, what must exist to define it?

a statute, an ordinance, a regulation (all of the above)

A crime normally punished by only a fine is:

an infraction

Criminal law reform is driven by the desire to:

codify and clarify the law

(Bonus) For ______ jeopardy to apply, the prosecution must be for the same offense as that involved in the earlier proceeding.

double

The prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment is contained in the:

eighth amendment

Which amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment?

eighth amendment

True or false. Mala prohibita crimes are those that are generally considered as morally wrong and are considered criminal in nature.

false

Mala prohibita crimes are crimes such as:

insider trading, speeding, illegal parking (all of the above)

The majority of our states classify crime as:

misdemeanors and felonies

Most jurisdictions use this as the distinguishing factor between felonies and misdemeanors:

place of incarceration

Suspect classifications may be based upon which of the following?

race, religion, and gender (all of the above)

(Bonus) Most criminal trials take place in ______ courts.

state

The majority of criminal laws in the United States are made by whom?

state legislatures

Jurisdiction is the power of a court to exercise power over:

the defendant and the crime

A tort is the violation of a private interest of:

the victim

Which of the following is not a reason why we punish?

to compensate the victim

The purpose behind the prohibition against double jeopardy is:

to protect a person from the harassment of multiple trials

Which of the following is the most serious classification of crime?

treason

True or false. Private laws deal with relationships between people where the government has only an indirect interest.

true

True or false. Public laws are those laws in which the government has a direct interest in relationships and acts between people.

true

True or false. The Bill of Rights protects the people from their government.

true

True or false. Unless the legislature makes a certain conduct a crime, none has been committed.

true

The Constitution recognizes an independent right of privacy that protects citizens from:

undue government encroachment

Most criminal statutes must necessarily be:

vague